Social Movements and the Challenges of Resource Mobilization in the Digital Era: A Case from Francophone West Africa

Abstract

Abstract:Accumulating resources for mass action in francophone West Africa involves seeking financial, media, and popular backing. Many prominent social movements have succeeded in finding the necessary resources for their activism, but they often face apprehensions concerning the legitimacy and origin of their resources. Focusing on the Y’en a marre movement in Senegal, this article argues that resource mobilization presents several challenges for francophone African activists, some of which can delegitimize their struggles for social change and expose them to governmental surveillance and repression. The article primarily explores the benefit and inconvenience of traditional and social media for mass action. It examines the evolution of Senegalese youth engagement in social change and the origin of the financial resources of Y’en a marre.